Radiation treatment planning and delivery for moving targets in the heart

ABSTRACT

Method and systems are disclosed for radiating a moving target inside a heart. The method includes acquiring sequential volumetric representations of an area of the heart and defining a target tissue region and/or a radiation sensitive structure region in 3D for a first of the representations. The target tissue region and/or radiation sensitive structure region are identified for another of the representations by an analysis of the area of the heart from the first representation and the other representation. Radiation beams to the target tissue region are fired in response to the identified target tissue region and/or radiation sensitive structure region from the other representation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION DATA

The present application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/036,865 filed Mar. 14, 2008; the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally provides improved methods, devices, and systems for treatment of tissue, in many cases by directing radiation from outside the body toward an internal target tissue. Exemplary embodiments may deposit a specified radiation dose at a target in the heart muscle while limiting or minimizing the dose received by adjoining radiation sensitive structures.

In the past, targets such as tumors in the head, spine, abdomen and lungs have been successfully treated by using radiosurgery. During radiosurgery, the target is bombarded with a series of beams of ionizing radiation (for example, a series of MeV X-ray beams) fired from various different positions and orientations by a radiation delivery system. The beams can be directed through intermediate tissue toward the target tissue so as to affect the tumor biology. The beam trajectories help limit the radiation exposure to the intermediate and other collateral tissues, using the cumulative radiation dose at the target to treat the tumor. The CyberKnife™ Radiosurgical System (Accuray Inc.) and the Trilogy™ radiosurgical system (Varian Medical Systems) are two such radiation delivery systems.

Modern robotic radiosurgical systems may incorporate imaging into the treatment system so as to verify the position of the target tissue without having to rely on rigid frameworks affixing the patient to a patient support. Some systems also have an ability to treat tissues that move during respiration, and this has significantly broadened the number of patients that can benefit from radiosurgery. It has also previously been proposed to make use of radiosurgical treatments for treatment of other tissues that undergo physiological movements, including the directing of radiation toward selected areas of the heart for treatment of atrial fibrillation.

During atrial fibrillation, the atria lose their organized pumping action. In normal sinus rhythm, the atria contract, the valves open, and blood fills the ventricles (the lower chambers). The ventricles then contract to complete the organized cycle of each heart beat. Atrial fibrillation has been characterized as a storm of electrical energy that travels across the atria, causing these upper chambers of the heart to quiver or fibrillate. During atrial fibrillation, the blood is not able to empty efficiently from the atria into the ventricles with each heart beat. By directing ionizing radiation toward the heart based on lesion patterns used in open surgical atrial fibrillation therapies (such as the Maze procedure), the resulting scar tissue may prevent recirculating electrical signals and thereby diminish or eliminate the atrial fibrillation.

While the proposed radiosurgical treatments of atrial fibrillation offer benefits by significantly reducing trauma for heart patients, improvements to existing radiosurgical systems may be helpful to expand the use of such therapies. For example, movement of the tissues of the heart during a heartbeat may be significantly more rapid than movements of lung tumors induced by respiration. While well suited for treatment of lung tissues and the like, existing systems used to verify target registration may also limit radiation exposure of collateral tissues and/or avoid delays in the procedure by limiting the rate at which x-ray images are acquired during treatment. As several radiation-sensitive structures are in and/or near the heart, and as the treatment time for a single heart patient may be as long as 30 minutes or more, increasing the imaging rate and/or delaying the radiation beams when the target tissue is not sufficiently aligned may be undesirable in many cases.

In light of the above, it would be desirable to provide improved devices, systems, and methods for treating moving tissues of a patient, particularly by directing radiation from outside the patient and into target tissues of a heart. It would be particularly beneficial if these improvements were compatible with (and could be implemented by modification of) existing radiosurgical systems, ideally without significantly increasing the exposure of patients to incidental imaging radiation, without increasing the costs so much as to make these treatments unavailable to many patients, and/or without unnecessarily degrading the accuracy of the treatments and without causing collateral damage to the healthy tissue despite the movement of the target tissues during beating of the heart.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally provides improved medical devices, systems, and methods, particularly for radiation treatment planning and delivery for moving tissues in a heart. The invention allows improved radiosurgical treatment of tissues of the heart, often enhancing the capabilities of existing robotic radiosurgical systems for targeting tissues of the heart to mitigate arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation or the like.

In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for radiating a moving target inside a heart comprising acquiring sequential volumetric representations of an area of the heart and defining a target tissue region and/or a radiation sensitive structure region in 3-dimensions (3D) for a first of the representations. The target tissue region and/or radiation sensitive structure region are identified for another of the representations by an analysis of the area of the heart from the first representation and the other representation. Radiation beams to the target tissue region are fired in response to the identified target tissue region and/or radiation sensitive structure region from the other representation.

In another embodiment, a method is disclosed for irradiating a moving target of a wall of a heart comprising acquiring at least one volume of the heart and defining the target tissue region and/or critical structure region in 3D so that the target tissue region extends through the wall of the heart. A dose distribution is computed and radiation beams are fired to the target to obtain the simulated dose distribution transmurally through the wall of the heart.

In another embodiment, a method is disclosed for irradiating a moving target inside a heart comprising acquiring a computed tomography (CT) volume and defining a transmural target tissue region. A dose distribution is computed and visualized using volume or surface rendering in 3D so as to verify transmurality.

In another embodiment, a system is disclosed for irradiating a moving target inside a heart comprising a volume acquisition system for acquiring at least one CT volume of an area of the heart and a processor coupled to the image acquisition system. The processor is configured for defining the target tissue region and/or critical structure region in 3D and computing a dose distribution. A robot is coupled to the processor and a radiation beam source is supported by the robot and is coupled to the processor. The processor controls the firing of a series of the radiation beams from the radiation source so as to treat the target tissue region.

In another embodiment, a system is disclosed for irradiating a moving target inside a heart comprising a volume acquisition system for acquiring a computed tomography (CT) volume and a processor coupled to the image acquisition system. the processor is configured for defining a transmural target tissue region and computing a dose distribution. A visualization system is used for visualizing the dose distribution using volume or surface rendering in 3-dimensions (3D) so as to verify transmurality.

Many different types of modeling may be used with the method and systems, including (1) volume rendering, (2) maximum intensity projection, (3) minimum intensity projection, (4) X-ray projection, (5) haptic feedback, (6). virtual fly-through, (7) stereoscopic 3D rendering, (8) virtual reality and (9) multi-planar, oblique and curved reconstruction. In some embodiments the contours of the target tissue region and/or a radiation sensitive structure region are outlined in 3D. In some embodiments an electrogram may be registered to the CT volumes. In some embodiments the moving target is a wall of a heart and the methods and systems ensure transmurality of the target.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exemplary CyberKnife stereotactic radiosurgery system for use in embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates locations of the target, the radiation sensitive structures, the nodes and the beams in the CyberKnife system;

FIG. 3 graphically illustrates an EKG waveform showing the phases where CT volumes may be acquired;

FIG. 4 illustrates a screenshot of a display showing an output obtained using an exemplary software application for loading and proscribing a target in moving tissue;

FIGS. 5( a), 5(b) and 5(c) illustrate one example of a target shape to be defined in the case of PV ostia to ensure transmurality; and

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a method for treating a target tissue using a radiosurgical system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally provides improved devices, systems, and methods for treatment of tissue, often using radiosurgical systems. The invention is particularly well suited for tracking of moving tissues such as tissues of the heart and tissue structures adjacent the heart that move with the cardiac or heartbeat cycles. Alternatively, it is also suited for tracking of moving tissues in the heart and its adjacent structures due to respiration. The invention may take advantage of structures and methods which have been developed for treating tumors, particularly those which are associated with treatments of tissue structures that move with the respiration cycle. A variety of differing embodiments may be employed, with the following description presenting exemplary embodiments that do not necessarily limit the scope of the invention.

Radiosurgery is a known method of treating targets in the body, such as tumors in the head, spine, abdomen and lungs. During radiosurgery, the target is bombarded with a series of MeV X-ray beams fired from various different positions and orientations by using a radiation delivery system, to affect the tumor biology using the cumulative radiation dose at the target. The radiation can be delivered invasively in conjunction with traditional scalpel surgery, or through a percutaneous catheter by means of radioactive seeds. Radiation can also be delivered non-invasively from outside the body, through overlying tissue. CyberKnife™ (Accuray Inc.) and Trilogy™ (Varian Medical Systems) are two such radiation delivery systems. Advances in stereotactic surgery have provided increased accuracy in registering the position of tissue targeted for treatment and a radiation source. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,351,662 and 6,402,762. Stereotactic radiosurgery systems may be commercially available from ACCURAY, INC. of Sunnyvale, Calif., and BRAINLAB. The Accuray Cyberknife™ stereotactic radiosurgery system has reportedly been used to provide targeted, painless, and fast treatment of tumors.

Improvements in imaging and computer technology have led to advances in radiation treatment, often for targeting tumors of the spine and brain. The introduction of CT scanners enables surgeons and radiation oncologist to better define the location and shape of a tumor. Further improvements in imaging technology include MRI, ultrasound, fluoroscopy and PET scanners. In addition, radiation therapy has also been aided by enhancements in ancillary technologies such as simulators to help position patients and advanced computers to improve treatment planning to enable the radiation oncologist to deliver radiation from a number of different angles. Computer technology has been introduced that enable radiation oncologists to link CT scanners to radiation therapy, making treatment more precise and treatment planning faster and more accurate, thereby making more complex plans available. Such advancements allow integrated conformal therapy, in which the radiation beam conforms to an actual shape of a tumor to minimize collateral damage to the surrounding healthy tissue. By combining simulators and imaging and treatment planning computers, the irradiation can be precisely administered.

The present invention may take advantage of many components included in or derived from known radiation delivery system components. Suitable system components may comprise:

-   -   1. A linear accelerator (Linac) capable of generating the X-ray         beam.     -   2. A mechanism to position and orient the X-ray beam.     -   3. A patient registration system to position and orient the         target in the coordinate system of the delivery system.     -   4. A tracking system for tracking the target during treatment in         case the target changes shape or moves between the time of, for         example, a CT exam and the time of treatment, and/or during         treatment.     -   5. A couch capable of positioning the target (patient)         independent of the mechanism described in #2 above.

In exemplary CyberKnife-based systems, the above 5 items may correspond to:

-   -   1. A 6 MeV X-band X-ray Linac     -   2. A 6 degree-of-freedom (DOF) robotic manipulator.     -   3. A patient registration system consisting of:         -   Two ceiling-mounted diagnostic X-ray sources         -   Two amorphous silicon image detectors mounted on the floor.     -   4. During treatment, two orthogonal X-rays are taken and         registered with the CT data by cross-correlating the X-rays with         simulated X-rays generated by CT data, called digitally         reconstructed radiographs (DRR).     -   5. The tracking system may include several light-emitting diodes         (LEDs) mounted on the patient's skin to correlate target motion         with LED motion allowing the system to track the target based on         LED motion and use X-ray periodically to confirm and update the         correlation model.     -   6. A couch with 5 or more DOF.

An exemplary Cyberknife stereotactic radiosurgery system 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1. Radiosurgery system 10 has a single source of radiation, which moves about relative to a patient. Radiosurgery system 10 includes a lightweight linear accelerator 12 mounted to a highly maneuverable robotic arm 14. An image guidance system 16 uses image registration techniques to determine the treatment target coordinates with respect to an isocenter that serves as a world coordinate reference frame, and transmits the target coordinates to robot arm 14 which then directs a radiation beam to the treatment site. When the target moves, system 10 detects the change and corrects the beam pointing in real-time or near real-time. Real-time or near real-time image guidance eliminates the need for skeletal fixation to rigidly immobilize the target.

System 10 makes use of robot arm 14 and linear accelerator 12 under computer control. Image guidance system 16 includes two diagnostic x-ray sources 18 and image detectors 20, this imaging hardware comprising two fixed diagnostic x-ray cameras. These cameras provide a stationary frame of reference for locating the patient's anatomy, which, in turn, has a known relationship to an isocenter. Image guidance system 16 can monitor patient movement and automatically adjust system 10 to maintain the radiation beam directed at the selected target tissue. Rather than make use of radiosurgery system 10 and related externally applied radiosurgical techniques to tumors of the spine and brain tissues, the invention applies system 10 to numerous cardiac conditions, and in one exemplary method to the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Tradition radiosurgery instruments without image guidance technology rely on stereotactic metal frames screwed into the patient's skull to accurately target a tumor. Traditional radiosurgery has its drawbacks, the biggest of which relate to the use of the frame, including the pain and difficulty of accurately reattaching the frame in precisely the same location, along with the inability to target tissues other than those in the neck and head. Conventional linear accelerators for these systems can also be the size and weight of an automobile. Frame-based radiosurgery is generally limited to isocentric or spherical target treatments. To allow a device which can precisely pinpoint and treat tissues throughout the body, system 10 makes use of a portable linear accelerator, such as those originally designed for industrial inspections, which can be carried on a person's back. Linear accelerators may be commercially available from SCHONBERG RESEARCH GROUP, SIEMENS, PICKER INTERNATIONAL INC. or VARIAN.

Linear accelerator 12 is robotically controlled and delivers pin-point radiation to target regions throughout the body of the patient. Radiation may be administered by using a portable linear accelerator such as that illustrated in FIG. 1. Larger linear accelerators may also generate the radiation in some embodiments. Such linear accelerators may be mounted on a gantry device, delivering radiation in constant arcs. This process delivers radiation to the target tissue and also irradiates a certain amount of surrounding tissue. As a result, such radiation therapy may be administered in a series of relatively small doses given daily over a period of several weeks, a process referred to as fractionation. Each radiation dose can create some collateral damage to the healthy surrounding tissue. System 10 may also allow application of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). In IMRT less dose is delivered to the target. This requires, generally, more treatment sessions or fractions to deliver the prescribed dose to the target and permits larger margins (less accuracy) because the dose delivered per fraction is smaller.

In the exemplary embodiment, robot arm 14 of system 10 is part of a pure robotics system, providing six degree of freedom range of motion. In use, the surgeon basically pushes a button and the non-invasive procedure is performed automatically with the image guidance system continuously checking and re-checking the position of the target tissue and the precision with which linear accelerator 12 is firing radiation at the tumor. Image guidance system provides ultrasound guidance that gives the surgeon the position of internal organs. Image guidance system continuously checks, during a procedure, that the radiation beam is directed to the target. Alternatively the image guidance system includes an X-ray imaging system as is the case with the traditional Accuray CyberKnife™ radiosurgery system. The exemplary image guidance system takes the surgeon's hand out of the loop. The surgeon may not even be in the operating room with the patient. Instead, the image guidance system guides the procedure automatically on a near real-time basis. By combining advanced image guidance and robotics, system 10 has proven effective in treating head and neck tumors without having to resort to stereotactic metal frame screwed into the skull of a patient.

The target shape may be a three-dimensional shape and may include (1) volume rendering, (2) maximum intensity projection, (3) minimum intensity projection, (4) X-ray projection, (5) haptic feedback, (6). virtual fly-through, (7) stereoscopic 3D rendering, (8) virtual reality, and (9) multi-planar, oblique and curved reconstruction.

The system 10 creates the target shape to encompass (including or surrounding) the anatomical site. The anatomical site may include an ostium of a pulmonary vein (PV), a cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI), an Atrioventricular (AV) node or junction, Sinoatrial (SA) node, His-Purkinje fibers, or ablation of areas necessary to control and treat aberrant arrhythmias, an atrial or ventricular site, neural fibers near or adjacent to the heart (ganglionic) or neural fibers in the chest or neck.

Once the target position is determined, the coordinates are relayed to robot arm 14, which adjusts the pointing of linear accelerator 12 and radiation is delivered. The speed of the imaging process allows the system to detect and adjust to changes in target position in less than one second. The linear accelerator is then moved to a new position and the process is repeated. Alternative systems may make use of laser triangulation, which refers to a method of using so-called laser tattoos to mark external points on the skin's surface so as to target the location of internal organs and critical structures. An alternative system commercialized by BRAINLAB uses a slightly different approach that measures chest wall movements.

The system is capable of directing one or more doses of radiation from outside of the patient's body toward the target shape to ablate the target shape. The quantity of radiation absorbed in a tissue is the “dose” with the SI unit Gray (Gy=J/kg). The dose is strongly dependent on the type of radiation and the time span, also called “dwell time”. An application dose rate is the dose of radiation per time (delivered or received). Biological effects of the absorbed radiation are dependent on the type of radiation and the type of tissue which is irradiated. Both total radiation dose and dose rate are important, since damage caused by radiation can be repaired between fractionated doses or during low dose rate exposure. The target dose rate may be between 15 to 80 Gy, preferably, between 25 to 40 Gy to achieve histological change at the target site without harm to other tissue. In one embodiment, the accuracy of the radiation delivery is better than 2 mm, which is within the range of cardiac motion certain portions of the heart at or within 2 mm plus or minus.

System 10 allows ablation of tissue anywhere in the patient's body. The present invention uses high energy x-ray irradiation from a linear accelerator mounted on a robot arm to produce ablation of target tissue. In one example, system 10 is used to ablate tumors or other defects of the heart treatable with radiation.

Advantages of system 10 include a treatment which can be provided on an outpatient basis, providing a painless option without the risk of complications associated with open surgery. Treatment may be applied in a single-fraction or hypo-fractionated radiosurgery (usually 2 to 5 fractions) for treatment near sensitive structures. System 10 provides flexibility in approach through computer control of flexible robotic arm 14 for access to hard-to-reach locations. System 10 is capable of irradiating with millimeter or submillimeter accuracy. System 10 also has the ability to comprehensively treat multiple target shapes. System 10 allows isocentric (for spherical) or non-isocentric (for irregularly shaped) target shapes. The creation of the target shapes also takes into account critical surrounding structures, and through the use of robotic arm 14, harm to the critical structures surrounding may be reduced. Sophisticated software allows for complex radiation dose planning in which critical structures are identified and protected from harmful levels of radiation dose. After careful planning, the precise robotic arm can stretch to hard-to-reach areas. The precise radiation delivered from the arm then minimizes the chance of injury to critical surrounding structures, with near-real-time image-guidance system eliminating the need for rigid immobilization, allowing robot arm 12 to track the body throughout the treatment.

It may be advantageous to, for a moving target inside the heart:

-   -   1. Prescribe a dose distribution to a target region in moving         tissue,     -   2. Simulate the dose distribution, and     -   3. Deliver the specified dose.

During treatment planning for system 10, beam nodes 30 and weights may be selected by a computer programming module to:

-   -   1. Deliver the prescribed dose to a target 32.     -   2. Avoid or minimize the dose delivered to radiation sensitive         structures 34, such as shown in FIG. 2.

Before a treatment session, a CT volume of the target vicinity is acquired. Other imaging modalities such as MRI, PET and ultrasound may also be used. The user defines the target and any radiation sensitive structures by outlining a series of contours in slices through the CT volume. A computer program then generates the set of nodes 30 from which a set of beams 36 will be fired and the weights for each of the beams. Alternatively, the user selects the nodes and the computer program generates the weights.

If the target is inside the heart, a series of CT volumes, called a volumetric movie may be acquired to capture the motion of the target. The definition of the target and the radiation sensitive structures can be time consuming since the user may outline contours in each of the volumes in the volumetric movie. The volumetric movie may be acquired as a function of a physiologic waveform such as EKG, respiratory signal or both.

In the case where the target is inside the heart on heart muscle, radiosurgical ablation creates scar tissue and eliminates abnormally conducting tissue. Radiosurgical ablation thus has the ability to suppress arrhythmias by creating lesions at targets such as the cavotricuspid isthmus and pulmonary vein ostia. One of key objectives when defining the target on heart muscle is to ensure that the target is transmural, i.e., covers the entire thickness of the heart muscle.

The methods for defining targets in the body using CT involves the user drawing 2-dimensional contours in axial, sagittal, coronal or oblique slices generated from the CT volume. Since the heart is a complex 3-dimensional shape, it is not easy to draw such contours on heart muscle in above mentioned slices to ensure that target transmurality is achieved. Embodiments of the invention eliminates this limitation by allowing target definition in 3-dimensions, and providing techniques to visualize the target on heart muscle to ensure that the target is in fact transmural.

Detailed Description of an Exemplary Method for Implementation in a Heart Treatment System

In an exemplary new method, the user defines the target and the radiation sensitive structures much more quickly. The steps of this method may include the following:

-   -   1. Acquire a series of M CT volumes, CT), j=0, . . . , M−1 of         the heart over one cardiac cycle with the patient holding         his/her breath. Use a high speed CT scanner such as 64-slice         Siemens SOMOTOM Definition to acquire CT volumes quickly, e.g.         one volume in 83 ms. Contrast agents may be used. FIG. 3 shows a         typical EKG waveform with M=10 phases where 10 CT volumes are         acquired. Alternatively, the CT volumes, CT(j) could be acquired         over a respiratory cycle. Additionally, the CT volumes, CT(j)         may be acquired over a respiratory cycle, yet triggered to an         EKG cycle.     -   2. Load all the M CT data volumes (here in forth known as         “volumetric movie”) in to a data visualization computer software         application module running on the processor of system 10 coupled         to a suitable display device, or on a processor capable of         communicating to the processor of system 10. FIG. 4 shows a         screenshot of a display of an exemplary such application.         Top-left, bottom-left, bottom-right views, called multi-planar         reconstruction-views (or MPR views), are axial, sagittal and         coronal slices through a single volume in the volumetric movie,         respectively. Top right is a view, called volume rendered view         (or VR view), containing a 3D representation of the volume,         generated using a technique called volume rendering. The VR view         also covers techniques of generating other 3D representations         such as (a) maximum intensity projection, (b) minimum intensity         projection and (c) X-ray projection.     -   3. Define the target region and radiation sensitive structures         in 3D using, for example, the VR-view. The user optionally drags         and drops a geometric-shape, such as a doughnut, at the target         region, such as the ostia of a pulmonary vein. The application         provides 3D tools to orient and place the doughnut in the         correct place and orientation. The application may also provide         alternative MPR-views, such as a view orthogonal to the viewing         direction, oblique reconstructed views, and curved reconstructed         views.     -   4. Additionally, surface detection techniques such as “marching         cubes” can be used to detect the 3-dimensional surfaces         corresponding to the borders of myocardial tissue. Using the         tools provided, the user can edit these surfaces to define the         target. Editing includes cutting a surfaces, clipping using a         bounding box.     -    FIGS. 5( a), 5(b) and 5(c) show the target shape to be defined         in the case of PV ostia to ensure transmurality. FIG. 5( a)         shows the anatomy including the left atrium 40 and pulmonary         vein 42. FIG. 5( c) shows the target shape 44, a hollow         cylinder-like shape. This ensures that the area ablated covers         the full thickness of the walls of the PV ostium. The user can         define this shape in 3-dimensions using the techniques described         above. If they were to define this target in 2-dimensional         slices, it would be very difficult.     -    Alternatively, the user can define a target such as the         cylinder-shape 46 shown in FIG. 5( b), which encompasses the PV         ostium and the blood inside it as well. This shape, called         Planning Target Volume for Optimization (PTVO) can be used by         the treatment planning software to generate the node-set. To         quantify the dose delivered to the tissue, Planning Target         Volume for Evaluation (PTVE), as shown in FIG. 5( c) can be         used. In this case both PTVO and PTVE must be defined by the         user to ensure transmurality. PTVO can also be automatically         generated from PTVE.     -    If an electrogram is available, it can be registered to the CT         data set and shown to the user. The user then sees the areas         where the electrical activity is abnormal in the electrogram and         can define the target in the electrogram it self in         3-dimensions. Since the CT is registered to the electrogram,         this target can then be used to define PTVE or PTVO.         Alternatively, the user can define the target in CT and         visualize it in the electrogram in 3-dimensions to ensure that         the target in fact covers areas where the electrical activity is         high.     -   5. Other types of target shapes, such as spheres and polyhedrons         can be used. Other types of target regions, such as,         cavotricuspid isthmus or AV node can be used. Alternatively, the         target and critical structure shapes can be defined using a 3D         mouse or a 3D bumper tool, an improvement over the 2D mouse and         2D bumper tool found in MultiPlan™ Treatment Planning         Workstation (Accuray Incorporated).     -   6. Optionally, the application provides the ability to view the         target area from inside the heart chambers and vessels using a         technique called “virtual-fly though”. An airplane rudder         control-like interface provides the ability for the user to         visualize the myocardial walls from within the heart. The user         gets the sensation that he/she is flying inside the heart         chambers. Using various controls, they can bank, accelerate,         decelerate, pull-up, nose-down inside the heart chambers. The         user can also place the doughnut-shaped target, or any         other-shaped target, at pulmonary vein ostia or any other area         inside the heart.     -   7. Optionally, the application also provides force feedback to         the user. Instead or in addition to a computer mouse, the user         can use a haptic feedback device such as Omega Haptic Device         (Force Dimension, Inc.). When the user grabs the target and         moves it towards the target region, if the geometric shape is         inside the blood, he/she will feel very little resistance to         movement. If the geometric shape impinges the heart wall, he/she         will feel some resistance, possibly the sensation of pushing         against soft-tissue, or a rubber-like material.     -   8. Optionally, the application may provide a stereoscopic 3D         rendering to the user. In stereoscopic 3D rendering the VR-view         is generated twice using two different vantage points, typically         separated by the average distance between human eyes. These left         and right images are then shown to the left and right eyes of         the user separately simultaneously or in rapid sequence. There         are a number of display devices to view stereoscopic 3D         renderings:         -   a. Stereo goggles using polarizing lenses or switching             displays.         -   b. Stereoscopic monitors     -   9. The system loads the other CT volumes from the volumetric         movie. It then automatically finds the location of the soft         tissue region covered by the aforementioned geometric shape in         all the volumes. Following this, it finds the motion of the soft         tissue region throughout the cardiac cycle by using all the         volumes. Correlation of a similarity function, based on CT         intensities, higher order derivatives thereof, or features can         be used to find the motion. One exemplary method and/or system         (here employing mutual information as a similarity measure) that         may be suitable for use in embodiments of the invention (without         limiting other embodiments that may use other approaches) is         described in an article by L. Zollei, E. Grimson, A. Norbash, W.         Wells, entitled “2D-3D rigid registration of x-ray fluoroscopy         and CT images using mutual information and sparsely sampled         histogram estimators,” CVPR 2001, which is incorporated herein         by reference. Another exemplary method and/or system can be         found in the deformable registration method described by J-P         Thirion entitled “Image Matching as a diffusion process: an         analogy with Maxwell's Demons”, Medical Image Analysis (1998)         Volume 2, Number 3, pp 243-260, Oxford University Press.     -   10A. The system then computes the dose distributions for each of         the volumes in the volumetric movie. From this, it computes the         average dose distribution.     -   10B. Alternatively, the motion of the target or critical         structures that cannot be tracked can be accounted for by         expanding the target and critical volumes with a margin that is         based on motion estimates. The margin can be large enough to         include the full amplitude of motion or it could be large enough         to include the target a large percentage of the time. Expanding         the target region by the full extent of the motion will result         in more tissue destruction than is necessary. In radiosurgical         treatment of tumors, margins have the benefit of destroying any         microscopic extension of the cancer that is not visible in the         images. However, in radiosurgical treatment of arrhythmias, the         target structure is well known and does not include any         extension, therefore, the margin should be minimized.     -    Margins can be calculated to include the target a large         percentage of the time by determining the three dimensional         probability density function for the target position and then         setting the margin to include some fraction of the integrated         probability. The dose calculation can then be modified based on         the fraction of the treatment when the target is within the         volume. Multiple margins calculated with different probability         levels can be used in the dose calculation. For example, if a         margin is drawn around a target region to include the complete         target 80% of the time, the minimum dose can be estimated as         0.8*min80, where min80 represents the minimum dose within the         margin that includes the entire target 80% of the time.     -    In this estimate, target is considered to receive no dose         during the time it spends outside of the margin. If an         additional margin is drawn to include the target region 95% of         the time, the minimum dose can be estimated as the lesser of         (min80) and (0.8*min80+0.15*min95), where min80 is defined as         above and min90 represents the minimum dose within the margin         that includes the entire target 95% of the time. These         calculations will underestimate the minimum dose to the target         less than using a margin that includes the target 100% of the         time.     -    Similar calculations can be made for the maximum dose to         critical structures. For example, if a margin is drawn to         include the complete critical structure 80% of the time, the         maximum dose to any point in the critical structure can be         calculated as (0.8*max80+0.2*maxField), where max80 is the         maximum dose within the margin that includes the target 80% of         the time and maxField represents the maximum dose in the field.         If an additional margin is drawn to include the critical         structure 100% of the time, the maximum dose to any point in the         critical structure can be calculated as the greater of max80 and         (0.8*max80+0.2*max100), where max80 is defined as above and         max100 is the maximum dose within the margin that includes the         critical structure 100% of the time. This will overestimate the         maximum dose to the critical structure less than a margin based         on including the critical structure 100% of the time.     -    Isotropic or anisotropic margins can be used to account for the         motion. Anisotropic margins can be calculated by moving each         surface point in an outward surface normal direction by a         distance equal to the radius of a margin ellipsoid in the same         direction as the outward surface normal. Accuracy may be         improved by defining the margin ellipsoid such that its         principle axes are aligned with the principle axis of the motion         of the target or critical structure.     -    Margin estimates do not require full volumetric motion         information from the target. An estimate of the target motion         can be determined by the position measurements for one point on         the target at multiple times during the cardiac cycle. This can         be obtained from simultaneous biplanar fluoroscopic images         showing the tip of a catheter that has been placed in the heart         touching the cardiac structure of interest. Alternatively,         real-time 3D ultrasound could be used to determine the motion of         structures of interest non-invasively.     -   11. The robot then fires the beams from predetermined locations         to create the simulated dose distribution.     -   12. Alternatively, the user may visualize the 3D or 4D dose         distributions using a volume rendering of the dose distribution.         Optionally, 3D fly though and haptic feedback can be used to         visualize and interact with the 3D or 4D dose distributions.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a relatively simple treatment flowchart 50 can represent imaging 52, planning 54, and treatment 56 steps and/or structures used before and during radiosurgical treatment according to embodiments of the present invention. Imaging 52, planning 54, and treatment 56 structures may include an associated processor module. The processor modules will typically comprise computer processing hardware and/or software, with the software typically being in the form of tangible media embodying computer-readable instructions or code for implementing one, some, or all of the method steps described herein. Suitable tangible media may comprise a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, a flash memory, a magnetic recording media (such as a hard disk, a floppy disk, or the like), an optical recording media (such as a compact disk (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), a read-only compact disk, a read/write compact disk, a memory stick, or the like). The various modules described herein may be implemented in a single processor board of a single general purpose computer, or may be run on several different processor boards of multiple proprietary computers, with the code, data, and signals being transmitted between the processor boards using a bus, a network (such as an Ethernet, intranet, or internet), via tangible recording media, using wireless telemetry, or the like. The code may be written as a monolithic software program, but will typically comprise a variety of separate subroutines and/or programs handling differing functions in any of a wide variety of software architectures, data processing arrangements, and the like. Nonetheless, breaking the functionality of the program into separate modules is useful for understanding the capabilities of the various aspects of the invention.

Addressing the imaging block 52 of block diagram 50 in FIG. 6, a time-sequence of 3-D volumes may be acquired using computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound imaging, X-ray imaging, optical coherence tomography, a combination of these or other imaging modalities, and/or the like. In some embodiments, corresponding EKG signals may also be received by the image processor module, and the processor may optionally use the EKG signals to time the acquisition of the 3-D volumes. In other embodiments, the respiratory signal may also be received by the image processor module, and the processor may optionally use the respiratory signal to time the acquisition of the 3D volumes.

CT volumes may be acquired using a variety of different approaches. A cardiac gated CT volume may be acquired at a particular phase of the EKG cycle. Two variations of cardiac gated CT may include a held-breath version and a free-breathing version. In the held-breath cardiac gated CT, the patient is holding their breath (typically either at full inspiration or full expiration), so that respiration motion is absent while the data is acquired. In the free breathing cardiac gated CT, the patient is breathing freely. The CT volume may be acquired at a desired point of the respiration cycle. By measuring the respiration wave form, the exact respiratory phase at which the CT volume is acquired can be known (similar to the known cardiac phase at which the CT volume is acquired). In either variation, both the cardiac phase and the respiration cycle phase can be identified for the cardiac gated CT.

A cardiac gated 4-dimensional CT can be generated by acquiring a time series of cardiac gated CT volumes at a series of desired EKG phases. Once again, the 4-D cardiac gated CT can be a held-breath type or a free-breathing type (as described above). Additionally, regarding the free-breathing cardiac gated 4D CT, the resulting series of CT volumes may be acquired at the same EKG phase, typically throughout the respiration cycle. By associating each CT volume with the associated phase of the respiration cycle, the time series CT volumes can be used to model respiratory-induced motion of tissue while minimizing the cardiac motion artifacts.

Yet another type of volume which may be acquired is the respiratory-gated CT volume. Such CT volumes may be acquired at a particular phase of the respiration cycle. Respiratory gating of CT may be performed prospectively or retrospectively. The cardiac motion may generally be ignored in this type of CT volume, so that the rapidly moving cardiac structures may be blurry in such CT volumes. In a related respiratory-gated 4-D CT volume, a series of respiratory-gated CT volumes are acquired at a series of respiratory phases.

Note that the tissue structure which will be targeted need not necessarily be visible in the image, so long as sufficiently contrasting surrogate imagable structures are visible in the images to identify the target tissue location. The imaging used in many embodiments will include a time sequence of three dimensional tissue volumes, with the time sequence typically spanning one or more cycles (such as a cardiac or heartbeat cycle, a respiration or breathing cycle, and/or the like).

The series of radiation beams are planned, typically by a surgeon using a user interface (such as a display and keyboard, mouse, or other input device) to communicate with a plan processor module. Based on the images, a plan 54 will be prepared for treatment of the target tissue, with the plan typically comprising a series of radiation beam trajectories which intersect within the target tissue. The processor module may make use of the model (including the tissue movements) to determine dosages in the target, collateral, and critical or sensitive tissues. The radiation dose within the target tissue should be at least sufficient to provide the desired effect (often comprising ablation of tissue, inhibition of contractile pathways within the heart, inhibition of arrhythmogenesis, and/or the like). Radiation dosages outside the target tissues will decrease with a relatively steep gradient so as to inhibit damage to collateral tissues, with radiation dosages in specified sensitive and/or critical tissue structures often being below a desired maximum threshold to avoid deleterious side effects. Embodiments of the invention may employ the 3-D volumes acquired in the imaging step 52 during the planning 54, with exemplary embodiments making use of the motion model represented by the time sequence of 3-D tissue volumes so as to more accurately identify exposure of radiation outside of the target, within sensitive tissue structures, inside the target, and the like. Planned timing of some or all of a series of radiation beams may be established based on the cardiac cycle, the respiration cycle, and/or the like so as to generate the desired dosages within the target tissue, so as to minimize or inhibit radiation exposure to critical structures, and/or to provide desired gradients between the target tissue and collateral or sensitive structures. In some embodiments, the order of the planned radiation beams may be altered and/or the trajectories of the radiation beams may be calculated in response to the motion of the model volume.

Once the plan 54 is established, the treatment 56 can be implemented. The treatment will often make use of a processor to direct movement of a robotic structure supporting a radiation beam source, along with registration, validation, and/or tracking modules which enhance accuracy of the treatment. Tracking may employ the motion model developed during imaging 52, and/or may also employ a separate intra-operative motion model. Alternatively, no motion model will be used, instead the target location computed from real-time image data will be used for tracking. The treatment 56 step and the associated hardware may use a sensor and/or input for physiological wave forms such as the respiration phase, cardiac phase, and the like for use in such tracking.

In one embodiment, an EKG sensor may be coupled to the patient to provide EKG signals to a targeting processor module. The targeting module configures the robot so as to position and orient the linear accelerator (or other radiation source) toward the target tissue along the desired trajectory for a particular radiation beam from among the series. Once the moving target tissue and the beam trajectory are appropriately aligned, the tracking module may fire the radiation beam by energizing the linear accelerator. Hence, the tracking module benefits from the motion model developed during the imaging steps, and the model may optionally be revised using data obtained immediately before and/or during treatment.

Advantageously, the treatments described herein can be iterative. Rather than target many foci or regions as is often done in an invasive procedure, externally applied radiosurgical ablation can address one or more target shapes on one day, and the then other target shapes on another day as needed. The interim period between treatments can be used to access the need for subsequent treatments. Such iterative or fractionated treatment is thus more conservative than current methods.

Suitable types of radiation, including particle beam radiation, may be employed. For example, the present invention encompasses the use of a GammaKnife™ radiosurgery system to ablate the moving tissue. Although gamma radiation could be administered during open heart or other invasive procedures, the currently preferred applications are substantially non-surgical.

While the exemplary embodiments have been described in some detail, by way of example and for clarity of understanding, those of skill in the art will recognize that a variety of modification, adaptations, and changes may be employed. Hence, the scope of the present invention should be limited solely by the appending claims. 

1. A method of radiating a moving target inside a heart, the method comprising: A acquiring sequential volumetric representations of an area of the heart; B defining a target tissue region and/or a radiation sensitive structure region in 3-dimensions (3D) for a first of the representations; C identifying the target tissue region and/or radiation sensitive structure region for another of the representations by an analysis of the area of the heart from the first representation and the other representation, including expanding the target tissue region and/or a radiation sensitive structure region with a margin based on the motion of the target tissue region and/or the radiation sensitive structure region; and D firing radiation beams to the target tissue region in response to the identified target tissue region and/or radiation sensitive structure region from the other representation per a dose calculation; wherein the margin used has been drawn to contain the full tissue target region and/or the radiation sensitive structure region some fraction of the time, and wherein the dose calculation is altered based on the fraction of the time the full tissue target region and/or the radiation sensitive structure region is contained within the margin.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein steps B and/or C include using a method selected from the group of: (1) volume rendering, (2) maximum intensity projection, (3) minimum intensity projection, (4) X-ray projection, (5) haptic feedback, (6) virtual fly-through, (7) stereoscopic 3D rendering and, (8) virtual reality.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein steps B and/or C include outlining contours of the target tissue region and/or a radiation sensitive structure region in 3D.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the margin used includes the full motion of the tissue target region and/or the radiation sensitive structure region.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein margins are drawn for more than one fraction.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the target comprises heart muscle extending through a wall of the heart from a first surface to a second surface, and wherein steps B and/or C include visualizing through the heart muscle in 3D so as to ensure transmurality of the target.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising registering an electrogram to the CT volumes.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequential volumetric representations are acquired over one cardiac cycle.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequential volumetric representations are acquired over one respiratory cycle.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein firing radiation beams to the target tissue region includes firing a series of radiation beams along different trajectories from outside the patient and through intervening tissue toward the target tissue region.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of steps A, B, C, D include a processor configured with machine-readable code embodying instructions for performing the step.
 12. A method of radiating a moving target inside a heart, the method comprising: A acquiring sequential volumetric representations of an area of the heart; B defining a target tissue region and/or a radiation sensitive structure region in 3-dimensions (3D); C expanding the target tissue region and/or a radiation sensitive structure region with a margin based on a motion of the target tissue region and/or the radiation sensitive structure region; and D firing radiation beams to the target tissue region in response based on the margin, wherein the margin used has been drawn to contain the full tissue target region and/or the radiation sensitive structure region some fraction of the time, and wherein a dose calculation is altered based on the fraction of the time the full tissue target region and/or the radiation sensitive structure region is contained within the margin.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the margin includes the full motion of the tissue target region and/or the radiation sensitive structure region.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein margins are drawn for more than one fraction.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the motion is based on a cardiac cycle and/or a respiratory cycle.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the motion is based on an estimate of a cardiac cycle and/or a respiratory cycle.
 17. The method of claim 12, further comprising computing a dose distribution based on the margin.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein steps B and/or C include using a method selected from the group of: (1) volume rendering, (2) maximum intensity projection, (3) minimum intensity projection, (4) X-ray projection, (5) haptic feedback, (6) virtual fly-through, (7) stereoscopic 3D rendering, (8) virtual reality, and (9) multi-planar, oblique and curved reconstructions.
 19. The method of claim 12, wherein steps B and/or C include outlining contours of the target tissue region and/or a radiation sensitive structure region in 3D.
 20. The method of claim 12, wherein the sequential volumetric representations are acquired over one cardiac cycle.
 21. The method of claim 12, wherein the sequential volumetric representations are acquired over one respiratory cycle.
 22. The method of claim 12, wherein firing radiation beams to the target tissue region includes firing a series of radiation beams along different trajectories.
 23. A system for radiating a moving target inside a heart, the system comprising: a volume acquisition system for acquiring sequential volumetric representations of an area of the heart; a processor coupled to the image acquisition system, the processor configured for: defining the target tissue region and/or critical structure region in 3-dimensions (3D); expanding the target tissue region and/or a radiation sensitive structure region with a margin based on a motion of the target tissue region and/or the radiation sensitive structure region; computing a dose distribution; a robot coupled to the processor; and a radiation beam source supported by the robot and coupled to the processor; the processor being configured with machine-readable code embodying instructions for firing a series of the radiation beams from the radiation source so as to treat the target tissue region based on the margin, wherein the margin used has been drawn to contain the full tissue target region and/or the radiation sensitive structure region some fraction of the time, and wherein a dose calculation is altered based on the fraction of the time the full tissue target region and/or the radiation sensitive structure region is contained within the margin.
 24. The system of claim 23, wherein the margin includes the full motion of the tissue target region and/or the radiation sensitive structure region.
 25. The system of claim 23, wherein margins are drawn for more than one fraction.
 26. The system of claim 23, wherein defining the target tissue region and/or critical structure region in 3D is selected from the group of: (1) volume rendering, (2) maximum intensity projection, (3) minimum intensity projection, (4) X-ray projection, (5) haptic feedback, (6) virtual fly-through, (7) stereoscopic 3D rendering, (8) virtual reality and (9) multi-planar, oblique and curved reconstructions.
 27. The system of claim 23, wherein the volume acquisition system is capable of acquiring a plurality of volumes of the tissue over a cardiac cycle and/or respiratory cycle.
 28. The system of claim 23, wherein firing a series of the radiation beams includes different trajectories from outside the patient and through intervening tissue toward the target tissue region. 